Newsletter 17

A Crochet Pattern A Week Newsletter

Number 18
Issue # 17© July, 2009 all rights reserved Published by A Crochet Pattern A Week Newsletter.
A big welcome to the "newbies" ! Thank you for joining "A Crochet pattern A Week!" I hope you enjoy the patterns and maybe learn something new.....from something old.For those of you who just found my blog, and are not members of "A Crochet Pattern of the week," and would like to join a great group of women and men come check us out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acrochetpatternaweekplace/

Table of Contents:
Yarn pattern
Cotton pattern
Trivia
Motivational thoughts
A Short Funny
Kids Corner (Kids craft, Kids game pick, Kids Freebie)
Craft Gift Idea
Link of the month
Hints & tips
Freebie

Yarn Pattern:

Noah's Ark Afghan 45"x61

• Note: The materials list and first part of the instructions for our Noah's Ark Afghan were given in the March's issue (#18). This issue cintains all remaining instructions for the afghan, including those for the animals, stars, rainbow, and clouds, along with afghan assembly and border instructions.
  

Cotton Pattern:

Thirsty Baby Bibs

These bibs will make darling baby shower gifts! Made from washcloths, they'er finished around the edges with lace that you crochet using size 10 cotton thread. Dainty ribbon ties secure the neck openings.

Triva:

Forest covers one quarter of Russia.

Muhammad is the world's most common first name.

During world War Two, Oscars were made of wood because metal was scarce.

Philadelphia was the site of the first stock exchange in 1791.

Siberia used to use solid blocks of tea as currency.

Before going into space astronauts are not permitted to eat beans.

Confucius, at age 16 was a corn inspector.

To keep food from freezing Eskimos use refrigerators.

During World War Two the only elephant in Berlin was killed by the first bomb dropped by the allies.

In the 1830's ketchup was sold as medicine.

Casinos in Las Vegas do not have clocks.

If you refrigerate rubber bands they will last longer.

Animal crackers come in the shape of 18 different animals.

When leaving a cave bats always turn left.

The number of dimples on a golf ball is 336.

Dogs can get toupees in Tokyo.

In Switzerland it is against the law to slam your car door.

Scissors were invented by Leonardo da Vinci.

The cat is the only domesticated animal not mentioned in the Bible.

The Flintstones were the first prime time couple shown in bed.

In Las Vegas it is a crime to pawn your dentures.

Pillows made of stone were used by the Egyptians.

In one night a mole can dig a 300 foot tunnel.

Bruce Springsteen's 'Born in the USA' was the first US CD ever pressed.

In one year Mexico City sinks about an inch. Chickens outnumber people.

The blood of a lobster is blue.

Motivational thoughts

I am only one,

But still I am one.

I cannot do everything,

But still I can do something;

And because I cannot do everything

I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.

-Edward Everett Hale

A Short Funny

A husband read an article to his wife about how many words women use a day... 30,000 to a man's 15,000. The wife replied, "The reason has to be because we have to repeat everything to men. The husband then turned to his wife and asked, "What?"

Kids Corner:
Craft:

Construction Paper Chalkboard
Materials Needed:
Black construction paper,
Elmer's Glue, paint brush,
cardboard,
chalk,
rag or an old sock
Directions:
Cut out black construction paper into any shape you want, i.e. animal shape, square, rectangle.
Glue construction paper onto cardboard.
Let dry.
Trim cardboard to fit shape.
Completely paint the construction paper with Elmer's glue.
Let dry thoroughly. Add decorations to your shape, such as eyes and nose for animals, or decorate the borders.
Write or draw with chalk and erase with rag.

KidsGame pick:
Chobots an awesome virtual world for parents and kids. This family game is a safe and fun learning environment for all ages.

http://www.primarygames.com/chobots/chobots.htm

Kids Freebie:

Geo Trax

You may order a maximum of one Geotrax™ Steamer & Samuel Save the Day DVD per household. Please allow **12-14** weeks for delivery.

https://store.mattel.com/transition.aspx?TransitionID=155

Craft Gift Idea

Darn it doll (for adults)

These make great little Dammit Dolls for stressful people They can be thrown, jabbed, stomped and even strangled till all the frustration leaves you.

Link of the month

The Golden Thimle

There is 934 link to free craft projects.

http://thegoldenthimble.com/craftylinks.html

Hint & Tip

Tips for Keeping Your Summer Whites White

By Annie B. Bond

Now that we’re officially in summer, we can start wearing our summer white clothing again. Only trouble is, whites don’t seem to stay white very long!
Here are our best tips for keeping those whites looking as crisp and pristine as they do the first day you wear them, without resorting to harmful chlorine bleaching.
Commercial BleachesIt is best to avoid most commonly available bleach, sodium hypochlorite, a moderately toxic chlorine salt that can bond with other chemicals to form cancer-causing organochlorines in the wastewater system.
“Natural oxygen safe bleaches” are commercially available (found primarily in the health food store marketplace), and are based on hydrogen peroxide. The best choice is to buy commercial non-chlorine bleaches instead of making your own version using store-bought 3 percent hydrogen peroxide because commercial brands, such as Seventh Generations’s Non-Chlorine Bleach–Free & Clear include oxygen bleach stabilizers to help reduce the product’s reactivity in the environment.
Tip: Adding ½ cup of lemon juice to the rinse cycle of a medium load of whites will lightly bleach the clothing. This technique is especially effective on clothes that are then hung to dry on the line.
Soften Your WaterThe minerals in hard water can gray clothes. If you have very hard water, add ½ cup of vinegar to your rinse water.
Brighten WhitesTo brighten whites, and if you don’t have hard water, use the might of minerals in your wash cycle. Add ½ cup borax or washing soda (both are available in the laundry section of your supermarket) to a medium load of laundry.
About LightNote to read clothing labels, as some direct you to dry the clothes outside of direct sunlight. On the other hand, storing whites in the dark can cause yellowing. A rule of thumb is that natural fibers love the sun and hanging them outside to dry on the line is to their benefit.

Freebie

• NOTE: I did this and it does work

Free USB Flash Drive
Want to download without any limitations? Request your free USB flash drive with FlyingShare Downloader software! Please fill in the form below. No purchase necessary. Offer is limited to one per household. No shipping & handling fee. Limited Time Offer. Offer valid only in United States, Canada, Australia and United Kingdom.

http://flyingshare.com/freedrive.php

Staytunned for more newsletters to come.

Ya'll come back ya hear.

A Crochet Pattern A Week Newsletter number 16

Issue # 16© July, 2008 all rights reserved Published by A Crochet Pattern A Week Newsletter.


A big welcome to the "newbies" ! Thank you for joining "A Crochet pattern A Week!" I hope you enjoy the patterns and maybe learn something new.....from something old.For those of you who just found my blog, and are not members of "A Crochet Pattern of the week," and would like to join a great group of women and men come check us out at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/acrochetpatternaweekplace/


Table of Contents:
Yarn pattern
Cotton pattern
Trivia
Motivational thoughts
A Short Funny
Kids Corner (Kids craft, Kids link of the week, Kids Freebie, Kids A Short Funny)
CraftGift Idea
Link of the month
Hints & tips
Freebie

Yarn Pattern:
Noah's Ark Afghan 45"x61"
The instructions begin in this issue and will conclude in May's issue (#18)





Cotton Pattern:
Make a frilly basket, and fill it full of Easter treasts.



Triva:
How Old is Crochet?
It seems shepherds were the first to crochet by using bits of wool shed by the sheep to make a "thread" (or yarn). Twigs and small branches were fashioned into "hooks" so they could make things to keep themselves warm while out in the fields. Could crochet be well over 2000 years old?


Motivational thoughts
Your living is determined not so much by what life brings to you as by what you bring to life.
John Homer Miller


A Short Funny
Older Than Dirt Quiz
How many do you remember?
Head lights dimmer switches on the floor.
Ignition switches on the dashboard.
Heaters mounted on the inside of the fire wall.
Real ice boxes.
Pant leg clips for bicycles without chain guards.
Soldering irons you heat on a gas burner.
Using hand signals for cars without turn signals.

Older Than Dirt Quiz: Count all the ones that you remember not the ones you were told about Ratings at the bottom.
1. Blackjack chewing gum
2. Wax Coke-shaped bottles with colored sugar water
3. Candy cigarettes
4. Soda pop machines that dispensed glass bottles
5. Coffee shops or diners with tableside juke boxes
6. Home milk delivery in glass bottles with cardboard stoppers
7. Party lines
8. Newsreels before the movie
9. P.F. Flyers
10. Butch wax
11. Telephone numbers with a word prefix (OLive-6933)12. Peashooters
13. Howdy Doody
14. 45 RPM records
15. S&H Green Stamps
16 Hi-fi's
17 Metal ice trays with lever
18. Mimeograph paper
19 Blue flashbulb
20. Packard
21. Roller skate keys
22. Cork popguns
23. Drive-ins
24. Studebakers
25. Wash tub wringers



If you remembered 0-5 = You're still youngIf you remembered 6-10 = You are getting olderIf you remembered 11-15 = Don't tell your age,If you remembered 16-25 = You're older than dirt!


Kids Corner:
Craft:









Homemade Bird Feeder

What you'll need:-
Pine Cones - Peanut Butter-Bread crumbs, nuts, or bird food-Butter knife-Ribbon or yarn-Scissors






Take pine cones or sticks and rub peanut butter all over them. Then take any bread crumbs, nuts or both and roll out the pine cone through the mix of bread and nuts and hang from a tree by a ribbon. Children love to watch the differnt color of birds flock to eat :)


Kids link of the week:





Handipoints


Earn purple “Bonus Points” for doing your chores, studying, and staying healthy.


Handipoints features a virtual world for kids and a chore chart system for families. Parents create printable online playing charts and kids earn points by checking off their tasks.
The more chores they do, the more points they earn. Kids can redeem their points for games, movies and clothes for their CoolCat kitty avatars in HandiLand. This is an online world where they can also talk to and play with other kids.
Kids can also redeem their points for real life rewards to keep them motivated. Parents can use this system to set up allowance programs and more online.
Unlike other children’s sites, Handipoints is a practical chore solution for families married to a fun and motivational virtual world for kids.
http://www.handipoints.com/



Kids Freebie:
The Eagle Books are a series of four books that are brought to life by wise animal ,and learning from their elders about health and diabetes prevention. characters Mr. Eagle and Miss Rabbit -and a clever trickster, Coyote,who engage Rain That Dances and his young friendsin the joy of physical activity, eating healthy foods












The Eagle Books were authored by Georgia Perez of Nambe Pueblo,and illustrated by Patrick Rolo, Bad River Band of Ojibwe,and Lisa A. Fifield, Oneida Tribe of Wisconsin,Black Bear Clan.
The first book, “Through The Eyes of The Eagle”introduces the characters of Mr. Eagle and Rain That Dances, the American Indian boy he befriends.Mr. Eagle reminds the young boy of the healthy ways of his ancestors.
In “Knees Lifted High,” the second book,Rain That Dances introduces Thunder Cloud, his best friend, to Mr. Eagle who encourages the boys to be physically active every day.
The third book, “A Plateful of Color,”introduces Miss Rabbit and the boys’ friends, Little Hummingbird and Simon.Miss Rabbit teaches the value of eating a variety of colorful and healthy foods.
“Tricky Treats,” the final book in the series,introduces the character of Coyote, a trickster, and encourages childrennot to be tricked by coyote when choosing foods to eat.
How can we order the Eagle Books?

http://tinyurl.com/dfx8tl [scroll down the book and CD are the last two]

Kids A Short Funny:

Silly FootprintsI spent years searching for a six-footed camel.I'd never seen it, but I knew it existed,'Cause I'd seen its footprints in the sand,but every time I got close, I missed it.I studied its footprints in the hot, summer sunand everything seemed just fineuntil I realized four footprints were hisand two of them were mine!

Adult craft:

Butterfly Wind Chime
http://www.aokcorral.com/projects/how2apr2005.htm

Gift Idea:

Creative Ideas for Making Easter Baskets
One of the most beloved of Easter traditions is that of giving the Easter basket. Typically left for children by their parents or the “Easter Bunny,” a basket may have any number of sweet candy treats or small surprises inside. However, you don’t have to have kids to enjoy this custom. Incorporate an Easter basket exchange in your women’s group, or decorate Easter baskets for charity.
This year, make your Easter basket a work of art! Go beyond the pink plastic basket filled with green cellophane grass (although I will always have fond memories of green cellophane grass…) Here are some ideas that will make your baskets unique and a delight to all who receive them.
1. Find suitable baskets at the craft store, discount store, or flea market. They do not have to be of uniform shape or size (unless you are doing this for multiple children who will argue over who has the biggest basket.)
2. Choose two different pretty grosgrain or satin ribbons in a size that will fit your basket, and weave them in a simple stripe or crisscross pattern into the outside of the basket. Finish with a bow!
3. Think of the recipient’s favorite hobby or sport and incorporate that into the design—if you wanted to go all out, you could even use acrylic craft paint to turn some wooden eggs into soccer balls, basketballs, or footballs.
4. For a more grown-up look, use specialty dried grass for “stuffing,” and make a corsage of silk flowers and ribbon to festoon the handle of the basket. Add some potpourri for a special touch, and fill the basket with gourmet treats.
5. Wrap the entire basket in pink, blue, or yellow tulle and tie with a contrasting satin bow. Tulle is an inexpensive fabric and adds an interesting texture.
6. Basket ideas for kids: A children’s book of the resurrection story, candies in unusual and interesting shapes, small plush bunnies, chicks, or ducks, inexpensive play jewelry, rubber balls, baseball cards…anything that you might put in a Christmas stocking could go in an Easter basket.
7. Basket ideas for grown-ups: fine chocolates, pretty painted eggs, golf balls, pantyhose that comes in an egg, travel games, pocket devotionals
8. Add the fun and mess of confetti eggs! In some areas, these are available in stores; however, they are easy to make at home. See my article “Easter Party Ideas For Kids” for instructions.
9. Leave a note from the Easter Bunny inviting the recipient to a special Easter egg hunt; for adults, this could be a special Easter brunch.
You see, with an open mind and creative spirit, you can make your Easter basket exchange exciting and fun for all. The one thing you shouldn’t forget, for recipients big and small: A chocolate bunny! For many, Easter morning doesn’t begin until those juicy chocolate ears have been bitten right off. Whatever your tradition, have a joyous Easter!

Link of the month:

Celebrate Easter with Hershey's

Hershey's wants to help you celebrate. Discover delicious recipes, delightful crafts, and so much more.

Planning for Easter has never been easier with HERSHEY'S. On our site, you'll discover lots of fun-filled Easter activities for the entire family. The kids will enjoy helping you create different Easter crafts. You'll find delicious Easter recipes for the perfect after dinner dessert. And if you're searching for mouth-watering Easter basket fillers, make sure to browse our assortment of delectable HERSHEY'S Easter candy treats.

http://www.hersheys.com/easter/

Hints & Tips

Quick and Easy Spring Cleaning

Spring cleaning is a "must", so it is always nice to have afew short cuts to get the cleaning done a little faster inorder to get back to the sewing room!Take an old terrycloth towel that is no longer being used andcut a strip the length of the towel and 2 1/2 inches wide.Sew the strip with 1/4" seams and turn right side out. Thisstrip easily slides onto a yardstick, which can be used toslide under the refrigerator, washer and dryer for quickcleaning. The strip can then be thrown into the washer toclean and save for the next time.
That same old towel can be cut into the shape of your dustmop, then add about 4 inches all around. Turn under a hemand run elastic through it. Slip the terry cloth "cover"over the dust mop and use that for getting the spider websfrom the corners in the garage, or reaching areas that arehard to get to. And, as before, when finished, throw thecover into the washer to clean for the next time.
When doing a thorough house cleaning, it is easier to do onejob throughout the house, such as cleaning the fans in everyroom at the same time. Next you might dust and polish thefurniture throughout the house, etc. By taking care of thecleaning "item by item", the only cleaning supplies neededare those for that particular job, rather than loadingyourself down with all the cleaning supplies in the houseand dragging them from room to room.

Freebie

Free or discount medicine programs

PPA [Partnership for Presciption Assistance]

The Partnership for Prescription Assistance brings together America's pharmaceutical companies, doctors, other health care providers, patient advocacy organizations and community groups to help qualifying patients who lack prescription coverage get the medicines they need through the public or private program that's right for them. Many will get them free or nearly free. Its mission is to increase awareness of patient assistance programs and boost enrollment of those who are eligible. Through this site, the Partnership for Prescription Assistance offers a single point of access to more than 475 public and private patient assistance programs, including more than 180 programs offered by pharmaceutical companies. To access the Partnership for Prescription Assistance by phone, you can call toll-free, 1-888-4PPA-NOW (1-888-477-2669). https://www.pparx.org/Intro.php

RX Assist
The Web's most current and comprehensive directory of Patient Assistance Programs Patient assistance programs are run by pharmaceutical companies to provide free medications to people who cannot afford to buy their medicine. RxAssist offers a comprehensive database of these patient assistance programs, as well as practical tools, news, and articles so that health care professionals and patients can find the information they need. All in one place.

http://www.rxassist.org/

Free RX of America

Free Rx Of America is a Patient Advocate Service that is dedicated to assisting the Millions of Americans who are potentially qualified to receive their prescriptions drugs Free Of Charge. http://www.freerxofamerica.com/

Stay tunned for more newsletters to come.
Ya'll come back ya hear.